Having been suspended since 2017, Sports Bureau (ID) President Pun Weng Kun announced yesterday during a press conference at Grand Lisboa Palace (GLP) in Cotai that the world-class golf tournament, the “Macao Open”, title-sponsored by SJM Resorts, will take place at the Macau Golf & Country Club in Coloane on October 12-15, featuring 144 golfers.
According to the press conference, “2023 SJM Macao Open”, with prize money of US$1 million, organised by the International Management Group (IMG) in conjunction with the Sports Bureau (ID), will be part of the 2023 Asian Tour schedule.
Speaking to the media after the press conference, Pun said that with the resumption of this international event, he expected more large-scale sports tournaments to be held in the future.
Concerning the participation of some internationally ranked players, Pun said he believed that it would make the whole event more exciting and attract golf fans from elsewhere to watch the game in Macau.
The ranked players include “rising Australian star Min Woo Lee who is currently ranked among the top 50 in the world and China’s legendary trailblazer Zhang Lianwei who won the tournament twice in 2001 and 2002”, according to the press conference.
India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar won the Macao Open when it was last held in 2017 and will be back to defend his title.
SJM Resorts Management Director Daisy Ho Chiu Fung said in a speech during the press conference: “The event will not only bring Macau to the forefront of the global golf community but will also give our local youngsters the chance to participate in PGA-calibre competitions”, adding she expected the tournament to showcase Macau as a true hub of sporting excellence and drive the dynamic fusion of “Sports + Tourism” developments.
The “SJM Macao Open 2023” golf competition co-organisers, including Sports Bureau (ID) President Pun Weng Kun (centre) and SJM Resorts Management Director Daisy Ho Chiu Fung (second from left), address yesterday’s press conference at the Grand Lisboa Palace (GLP) resort in Cotai. – Photo: Yuki Lei
